CPM to Have Its Own TV Channel in Andhra Soon

Intro
The idea of launching the channel is to highlight the adverse impacts of globalisation, people's issues, giving due coverage to the movements launched by employees, workers and farmers

 Express News Service
Hyderabad:   The CPM will have its own 24-hour news channel in the state. The party sympathisers have started the process of launching the channel and the work is in progress. "Launching a new channel involves lot of work and money. It may take at least seven to eight months for the channel to go on air," a senior CPM leader said.
According to sources, party former MLA Tammineni Veerabhadram was entrusted the job of launching the channel and to mobilise the required funds.
"The idea of having an own channel came from the cadre during the party meetings. Some partymen suggested to launch the channel to highlight the problems of the poor and peasantry," CPM state leader Y Venkateswarlu said.
Sources said the yet-to-be named channel will not have any direct links with the CPM as such and it would not be treated as an official channel of the party.
The idea of launching the channel is to highlight the adverse impacts of globalisation,  people's issues, giving due coverage to the movements launched by employees, workers and farmers.
Though the CPM do not have huge funds like other commercial channels, the party sympathisers were mobilising funds from the public, sources said.
CPM has two news channels - Kairali in Kerala and  Chobbis (24) Ghanta in West Bengal. Though they were not the official channels of the CPM, they were controlled by CPM leaders and sympathisers and give good coverage for the party and its affiliated organisations. Though, Chobbis (24) Ghanta was a part of Zee News it was controlled by West Bengal party state committee member Abheek Dutta, sources said.
The CPM has decided to strengthen the party in the state and even refused alliances with other parties in the ensuing byelections. The launch of the channel would help in achieving its goal to some extent. Besides, serious news, the channel will have also entertainment programmes, sources added.
The CPM owns five dailies in various languages including Prajasakthi in Telugu. The party is also bringing out 'Marxist' an ideological monthly in Telugu.